BREAKING NEWS: Two teens jailed for broken bottle attack on plumber

Daniel Cherrett, 19, and Joshua Hough, 19, used broken beer bottles to permanently disfigure Alex Cossin outside his girlfriend's home in Mendip Road, Salvington, just after midnight on July 17.

Kyle Scutt, 18, escaped a jail sentence for starting the "unprovoked" attack, which left Mr Cossin needing 30 stitches in wounds across his head, body and neck, including 14 stitches in a deep, 15cm gash on his neck.

Richard Barton, prosecuting, told Hove Crown Court today (Thursday, December 17) how Mr Cossin had been staying with his girlfriend, Deborah Langham, when he heard a noise from the street outside.

He looked out of the window and saw windows on his work van had been smashed and a man walking away.

He ran outside, calling the police on his mobile phone, and saw the three teenagers standing together. After he told them to wait for the police, Scutt walked over, punched him in the face and continued hitting him.

Cherrett and Hough then smashed beer bottles they were carrying on the ground and began slashing and stabbing at Mr Cossin's head and neck with the broken ends.

Ms Langham's 16-year-old son, Joshua, bravely ran outside to try and intervene but was punched in the face by Scutt, who said "What are you going to do?"

Scutt then shouted to Ms Langham: "Come on Deb, let me put you in hospital as well".

Ms Langham suffered an asthma attack as she watched the horrific ordeal from her home, saying in a witness impact statement that she feared she would lose her boyfriend and son in the attack.

Police arrived shortly afterwards and arrested the three at Scutt's flat in Mendip Road.

All three defendants apologised personally to Mr Cossin from the dock as he sat in court after Judge David Rennie told their barristers, who had spoken of their clients' remorse, that the apologies would mean more coming from the men personally.

Sentencing, Judge Rennie described the attack as "deeply shocking" but said it was "essentially out of character" for all three defendants.

He added: "It was a cowardly attack. It was a vicious attack, in which you spared not a moment's thought for your victim or his family.

"He was caused the most shocking injuries, particulary to his neck, that could have been potentially life threatening."

Cherrett, from Roedean Road, and Hough, from Hildon Close, were jailed for seven years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent. They received no separate penalty for affray and criminal damager.

Scutt was given a two-year community order with supervision, 240 hours of unpaid work and ordered to attend a rehabilitation course for causing actual bodily harm, affray and criminal damage.

For photos, and police and victim reaction, see Thursday's Herald.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]

Click here for the Herald staff directory.

Want to read this page in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Urdu or 48 other languages? click here for Google translate.